Christmas
is celebrated in many countries worldwide, with each country having unique customs
and traditions. Australia, Mexico, and Great Britain are highlighted here.
Australia
In Australia, December 25th falls during the summer, so people often spend part of
Christmas Day at the
beach or camping, and Bondi Beach near Sydney
is a popular Christmas destination.
As we do,
Australians set up Christmas trees and send out greeting cards, and children
excitedly look forward to a visit from Santa, whose sleigh is pulled by six
white boomers, or large kangaroos. On Christmas Day, family and friends
exchange gifts, and the Christmas feast is often light fare such as salads and
seafood, with traditional desserts such as Christmas pudding and Christmas cake
with currants and raisins.
Boxing
Day, December 26, is an important day for sports fans. The Boxing Day Test pits
the Australian cricket team against an international touring team and takes
place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Also on Boxing Day, the Sydney to Hobart
Yacht Race, a highly prestigious ocean race, begins.
Mexico
Christmas,
or Navidad, celebrations in Mexican neighborhoods begin December 16 with Las
Posadas. This celebration represents the journey and tribulation Mary and
Joseph endured the night of Jesus’ birth. Each night of the Posadas, a group
approaches a home to ask for lodging for Mary. After they are refused, they
plead for help a second time. The homeowner invites them in, where a manger
scene, or nacimiento, is waiting and the group prays and sings.
Soon afterward,
the children try to break a piñata, a container filled with candy and toys. The
piñata hangs from a tree, and the blindfolded children try to hit the piñata
with a stick to break it and release the goodies. On Christmas Eve, Christ’s
birth is announced at midnight with fireworks and bells. Many Mexicans attend
midnight mass, and then feast on common Mexican foods such as tamales, rice,
and menudo.
Great Britain
With
centuries-old traditions still celebrated today, Christmas is Great Britain’s
most popular holiday. Many Christmas traditions found in the U.S. originated in
Great Britain, such as sending Christmas cards and decorating our homes. Mistletoe
was thought to have miraculous powers, and our custom of kissing under the
mistletoe comes from an ancient pagan tradition. Prince Albert introduced the
Christmas tree to England in the mid-1800s.
As in the
U.S., Christmas Eve finds carolers strolling around neighborhoods, and children
hang stockings for Father Christmas to fill. Christmas Day begins with opening
presents, and Christmas dinner traditionally includes roast chicken, turkey, or
goose with potatoes and stuffing, followed by mince pies and Christmas pudding.
One difference in the dinner celebration involves Christmas crackers, which are
paper tubes full of gifts such as paper hats and toys. As two people pull it
open, it cracks. After dinner, Britons listen to the Queen’s Christmas Message
on radio and television.
At Christmas,
traditions are often as meaningful as the reason for the holiday itself. What
did you find fascinating about the customs of these countries?
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